Match report: Bradford Bulls 12 - 16 Giants

Feb 28 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HEROIC Huddersfield Giants have finally done it!

After a dozen failed Super League attempts to win at Odsal and for the first time in exactly 40 years, Huddersfield celebrated victory at Bradford – and it was a victory coach Nathan Brown’s bravehearts thoroughly deserved.

Despite lacking the services of first-choice props Eorl Crabtree and Darrell Griffin, the Giants were more than a match for the Bulls pack.

The forwards laid a magnificent platform for the Huddersfield backs, with Giants skipper Brett Hodgson the unquestioned star of the show.

Quite simply, the former West Tigers full-back was in a class of his own, both in attack and defence.

And the fact he played a massive part in all three of his side’s tries was testament to how dominant he was.

But it did take the Australian – and the Giants – a little time to warm up.

In the opening quarter there was little to separate the two sides, with the boot of Paul Deacon proving the difference.

On three occasions, Deacon was on hand to bang over penalties, twice for offside and once for a high tackle.

But after the scrum half’s third success, the Giants had a stroke of luck.

From the restart, the Bulls knocked-on and were immediately caught offside, and after a repeat set the Giants seized their chance.